This one perplexes me to no end. Any help anyone can give would be much appreciated. Basically, my 17inch powerbook does not recognize start-up volumes (but strangely it boots into Jaguar). When I turn the computer on the little picture of a folder pops up with an exclamation and a sad face, then after a couple seconds begins booting into the os. Everything runs decently but when I try to use disk utility, it does not allow any options like verifying permissions, repairing, etc. Additionally, all the partition and raid settings, etc. are not available (greyed out). Furthermore, when I insert a jaguar cd, it won't boot from it no matter which methods I use (option, holding c, or even using the graphical installer with the aqua restart button). It just does not seem to recognize my hard drive as the main os and won't let me fix things by doing a full restore. Please help if you can. I am pretty savvy with the os (some basic unix too) and I've reached the end of my expertise here.
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No Startup Disk recognition, at least I think...
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1) When You use Disk Utility while booted... You cannot modify any settings on your start-up drive... Therefore Reparring Permissions, RAID, and Partition Settings should be greyed out.
2) Check the Starup Disk Panel. Check to make sure your "Macintosh HD" is set as the Startup Disk.
2a) Restart your machine, you should no longer see the flashing folder or the Question Mark.
3) Try using the Starup Disk Panel to set your Jaguar CD as the Startup Disk, then you should be able to use it, just make sure you do #2 again once you restart.
Hope that helps
TEG
2) Check the Starup Disk Panel. Check to make sure your "Macintosh HD" is set as the Startup Disk.
2a) Restart your machine, you should no longer see the flashing folder or the Question Mark.
3) Try using the Starup Disk Panel to set your Jaguar CD as the Startup Disk, then you should be able to use it, just make sure you do #2 again once you restart.
Hope that helps
TEG
Just to clarify...
I am aware that you cannot initialize a startup disk which you are currently running an os (also repairing, raid, partitioning, etc.). But you CAN verify permissions ( or at least you are supposed to be able to be but not in my case). I have already tried the startup disk solution which lists both the cd (when inserted) and the Jaguar system folder, but when the screen illuminates, there is a picture of a folder with a mac smiley face alternating with an exclamation point. Thank you for the fast reply TEG. Any other assistance you could offer, or anyone else for that matter??
I am aware that you cannot initialize a startup disk which you are currently running an os (also repairing, raid, partitioning, etc.). But you CAN verify permissions ( or at least you are supposed to be able to be but not in my case). I have already tried the startup disk solution which lists both the cd (when inserted) and the Jaguar system folder, but when the screen illuminates, there is a picture of a folder with a mac smiley face alternating with an exclamation point. Thank you for the fast reply TEG. Any other assistance you could offer, or anyone else for that matter??
It is also possible that there may be a problem with your firmware. The PowerMac 5300 and 5400 always came up with a flashing folder before finding the HD.
Does the Option Trick work at all?
Can you boot from any other CDs? (Like Norton)
Are DVD functions normal?
Have you called Apple Care about this?
If you have any mods for the OS, I suggest you dissable them "At least Temporarily".
How Long has this been going on?
Does the Option Trick work at all?
Can you boot from any other CDs? (Like Norton)
Are DVD functions normal?
Have you called Apple Care about this?
If you have any mods for the OS, I suggest you dissable them "At least Temporarily".
How Long has this been going on?
Tried it... there has to be something else
-The option trick, if I understand it correctly does not work (holding option after powering on)
-I tried my friend's jaguar disk but I don't have norton so I can't try that; though, my gut feeling tells me it's something in the core somewhere
-The dvd functions normally... the burning works correctly from what I can tell (except that I borrowed some of my friend's blank dvd's for his pc that appeared universal and they don't work in mine; they instantly eject).
-I have not called apple because I don't want to start my 90 days; there is nothing non-functional on the computer besides the fact that I can't repair permissions, though I'd kind of like to re-format the hd ( don't have applecare because I'm a poor college student that lives in a non-applecare state)
-The only mods for the os I use are cleardock and tinkertool (both of which I think do not have anything to do with the problem.
-I also tried resetting the PRAM and that did nothing
-The computer has been like this since I'd say about two to three security updates ago (since I like to repair permissions after security updates and I noticed the initial flashing folder after a security update install)
THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING ELSE I CAN DO THAT I'M MISSING!
-The option trick, if I understand it correctly does not work (holding option after powering on)
-I tried my friend's jaguar disk but I don't have norton so I can't try that; though, my gut feeling tells me it's something in the core somewhere
-The dvd functions normally... the burning works correctly from what I can tell (except that I borrowed some of my friend's blank dvd's for his pc that appeared universal and they don't work in mine; they instantly eject).
-I have not called apple because I don't want to start my 90 days; there is nothing non-functional on the computer besides the fact that I can't repair permissions, though I'd kind of like to re-format the hd ( don't have applecare because I'm a poor college student that lives in a non-applecare state)
-The only mods for the os I use are cleardock and tinkertool (both of which I think do not have anything to do with the problem.
-I also tried resetting the PRAM and that did nothing
-The computer has been like this since I'd say about two to three security updates ago (since I like to repair permissions after security updates and I noticed the initial flashing folder after a security update install)
THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING ELSE I CAN DO THAT I'M MISSING!
Re: Tried it... there has to be something else
There was a problem I remember from a while ago, where the Startup Disk would get unselected for one of a number of reasons, if you didn't go back and explicity set your startup disk in the Startup Disk (nee System Disk) Control Panel, the mac would boot fine, but it would pause for a second (showing the flashing questionmark/folder animation) while it searched the available busses for a drive to boot from.
I don't know if this is still an issue with OSX, but since it is a variable that gets set inside OpenFirmware, I imagine it could affect a machine running OSX (or any OS).
Try setting the startup disk in the Startup Disk pane in System Preferences.app to your normal startup disk. (actually it will show up as a folder called something like "Mac OS X, 10.2 on Macintosh HD")
If that doesn't work, you can try holding down command-option-o-f which will dump you into the OpenFirmware prompt. From there you can type reset-all (just like that, no spaces) and then hit return. It's a little bit more in depth than resetting the PRAM.
Honestly, I have no idea why Disk Utility wont let you verify, maybe my suggestions are way off. Something to try at least.
On a side note, who here loves OpenFirmware? Such a better system than PC-Style BIOS. My sun box uses it too. great stuff.
There was a problem I remember from a while ago, where the Startup Disk would get unselected for one of a number of reasons, if you didn't go back and explicity set your startup disk in the Startup Disk (nee System Disk) Control Panel, the mac would boot fine, but it would pause for a second (showing the flashing questionmark/folder animation) while it searched the available busses for a drive to boot from.
I don't know if this is still an issue with OSX, but since it is a variable that gets set inside OpenFirmware, I imagine it could affect a machine running OSX (or any OS).
Try setting the startup disk in the Startup Disk pane in System Preferences.app to your normal startup disk. (actually it will show up as a folder called something like "Mac OS X, 10.2 on Macintosh HD")
If that doesn't work, you can try holding down command-option-o-f which will dump you into the OpenFirmware prompt. From there you can type reset-all (just like that, no spaces) and then hit return. It's a little bit more in depth than resetting the PRAM.
Honestly, I have no idea why Disk Utility wont let you verify, maybe my suggestions are way off. Something to try at least.
On a side note, who here loves OpenFirmware? Such a better system than PC-Style BIOS. My sun box uses it too. great stuff.
When you try to boot up off of OSX install disk 1 are you holding the 'C' key after restart to tell it to boot off of the CD drive? It sounds like you are trying to select the system on the CD from the startup disk preference pane which will not work.
Re: Re: Tried it... there has to be something else
Yup your free 90 days starts when you purchase the machine. If you need more direct support you either need to pay for AppleCare or you need to find a friendly local Apple authorized retailer who is usually more then happy to talk about your problem and give you suggestions.
Yup your free 90 days starts when you purchase the machine. If you need more direct support you either need to pay for AppleCare or you need to find a friendly local Apple authorized retailer who is usually more then happy to talk about your problem and give you suggestions.